Article-packaging machine.



O. CASEY.

ARTICLE PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00121.1913. 1,108,696. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. CASEY.

ARTICLE PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1913.

1,108,696. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

O. CASEY.

ARTICLE PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.Z1, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

G. CASEY.

ARTICLE PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1913.

1,1 08,696. Patented Aug. 25, 19m

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.illlll lmllilllllli I G. CASEY.

ARTICLE PACKAGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.21,1913.

1,1 08,696. Patented Aug.25,1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARL CASEY, OF WASHING'1ON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ARTICLE-PACKAGING- MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL CASEY,- a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and tiseful Improvements in ArticlePackagingMachines, of whlch the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement provide a machine in which thepackages may be. placed in one hopper, the articles tobe packaged inanother, and the machine so constructed that the package and'the artl-'oles to be contained are simultaneously removed from their respectivehoppers, .and

plungers for placing the articles in the packages, after which thephmgers are withdrawn, and that part of the packagethrough which thearticles are inserted is closed.

A still further object is to provide drums for receiving and removingthe packages and articles from their hoppers, which drums are mounted tobe rotated, and one of which carries the plungers, all of saidparts soarranged that the operation of receiving the packages and placing thearticles therein, and sealing or closing the package or container, iscontinuous.

Yet another object is to so construct the machines that the packages intube form may be used, they being removed from the hopper, oneendclosed, the article placed in the package through the remaining openend and that end closed.

i The invention. consists of still other novel features of-constructionand combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in top plan of themachine; Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation; Fig. 3 is a longi tudinalvertical sectional view through the machine; Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view adjacent the package-receiving dru'm to better illustratethe position of the closing rolls: Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic developmentof the machine with the casing remo ed; Fig. 6 is-an enlargedfragmentary sectional view to better illiistrate the relation betweenthe slots of the package drum and the slots of the article drum; Fig. 7is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Serial No. 796,481.

fragmentary sectional view to show the means for moving the plungers;Fig.8 is a fragmentary detailed view to disclose the manner of aliningthe package drum and the article drum; and Fig. .9 is a view showing thepackage and the ar icles to be packaged (a), one step of the packagingoperation (6), and the completed package (0).

The casing A is provided and is supported on asuitable standard or baseB. Thiscasing A is cylindrical in form, and the shaft C is held inbearings l and 2 to extend through the longitudinal center thereof.

The casing A is intended to be-stationary, and the shaft G is alsostationary, it being held by a set screw carried in one of the bearings.A package drum D is mounted upon the shaft within the casing, and nearone end thereof. An article drum E is mounted on the shaft beyond thedrum 1 to have a part thereof Within the casing A. The drums D and E arepreferably mounted on the shaft to be rotatable independently, one ofthe other, although they might, with certain changes in the structure,be connected to rotate together. Agear wheel! is rigidly connected withthe drum D on its outer end, and a gear wheel 5- of the same diameterand having a like number of teeth is connected with the outer end of thedrum E. It is the intention that the drums .D and E shall be rotated atthe same speed on the shaft C, and to accomplish this, the power shaft 6is provided with gears 7 and 8, which mesh with the gears 4 and5'respectively. This power shaft 6 may be driven as shown in Fig. 2 by achain and sprocket, which transmit motion from the power shaft 9, drivenby a belt passing around the pulley 10, mounted thereon or in any othersuitable manner. A hopper, 11 'is'provided around an opening formedthrough the casing ad- 'jacent the drum D on its upper part, and asimilar hopper 12 is provided adjacent that part of the drum E whichextends within the casing. Drums D and E are provided on their outersurfaces with a plurality'of slots 13 and 14:, which extend in a lineparallel to the axes of rotation of the drums. The hoppers are made of awidth to cover a certain definite proportion of the slots in the drums,when the drums are at rest. Say. for instance, as in the presentdisclosure, drums are provided with one hundred slots. the hopper is ofsuflicient width to cover perhaps ten slots, or one-tenth of thecircumpackage drum D be treated as units, and" that the filling andclosing operations be performed in certain units. For instance,referring to Fig. 5, which is a development in the direction of thearrow X on Fig. 4, there would be ten units or groups to be treated.These will be'designated a, b, a,

(l, e, f, g, h, i, and j. As the shaft 6 is rotated, motion istransmitted to the gears 4 and 5', which in turn cause the package drumD and the article drum E to be rotated around the shaft 0. As each slot13 comes within the opening from the hopper 11, a package falls intoplace, and as the slots 14 of the article drum E come beneath the hopper12, the articles 'fall into place therein.

In the present instance, the machine is.

shown as designed for placing tooth picks in a wrapper or packages forindividual use, and the picks 3 as shown in Fig.9 (a) are the woodenpicks tapered at each end, and the package is a tube, preferablycircular in cross section, which may be either spirally wrapped orstraight wrapped. These tubes or packages 2' are ofsuiiicient size toreceive ,two of the tooth picks, and the slots 14 of the drum E of suchdimensions that they will accommodate two picks. As shown in Fig. 9, thetube 2 is somewhat longer than the picks y, and the drum D is of alength somewhat greater than the. picks, although ofless length than thetubes 2, and is shown positioned that the tubes or packages over-' hangat each end. It is preferable that the tubes be closed at one end beforethe picks are inserted therein, and that after the insertion of thepicks to the desired distance, the end through which they are insertedbe closed. Crimping rolls 16 and 17 are provided at a point beyond theextent, of the opening of the hopper 11, and preferably at a point aboutthe center of the second unit or the unit I). These rolls are mounted tobe stationary on the casing E, and are caused to be revolved during theoperation of the machine by gears 18 and 19, which interniesh, and agear wheel 20, which meshes with the large gear 4. After the one end ofthe tube has been crimped or pinched to close it, the picks can beinserted through the opposite end and, as a means of removing thep'ckisffdrii'the slots 14 and placing them in the packages, I haveprovided plungers 21, 21, which fit in guideways 22 formed in thearticle drum E and sliding in the slots 14.

The outermost portion E of the drum E is tubular in form, and is ofsomewhat less that as the frames are moved, the plungers fitted theretowill be moved as a unit. Guides 26 are secured to the frames 23, and

slide in guideways 27 formed near the center of each unit through thewall. of the member E. A cam G is secured on the shaft C within themember E and has a cam groove 28 formed around the periphery thereof.Friction rolls 29, 29 are secured to the guides 26. carried by each ofthe frames 23, and

these friction rolls work in the groove 28, thus as the drum E isrotated through the medium of gear wheel 5 and its driving means, thegroups of plungers are caused to be reciprocated in and out. After theone end of the tube has been closed, the plungers 21 are caused to bemoved forward, and the picks are removed from the slots 14, and areplaced in the packages at a point adjacent the periphery of the drum D,that is to say, the plungers 21 move as shown in the group f in Fig. 5to such a point that the picks are forced entirely within the tube, andthe projecting end adjacentthe article drum is left free to be crimped.As shown in Fig. 5, the plungers have, during their passage through thetenths of the circumference, indicated by the groups 03 to 6, been movedinwardly, due to the forward pitch of the cam groove 28. In the group7', the plungers have-reached their extreme inner position, and thepicks are in the proper place. At this point, the

1 cam groove 28 has its pitch reversed, and the plungers are caused tobe withdrawn through the position indicated at g, h,z', until they reachthe position at y, where the grooves 14 are entirely unobstructed andready to receive the picks or other articles to be placed in thepackages or tubes.

Since at the point indicated by a the slots 13 are to receive a newcomplement of tubes, these slots, by the time they reach the point j,must be free of the packages containing the picks, also the end throughwhich the picks were inserted must have been closed before the packagesare removed from the machine. A second set of crimping rolls 29 and 30are provided at such a point that the plungers 21 have been withdrawnfrom the ends of the tube 2, and in this instance, are shown positionedat about the center of .a group h. These crimping rolls are alsooperated continuously with the rotation of the drums, and are gearedthrough a wheel 1 with the gear 4. zlhe drums D and E have now passedthrough the greater part of one revolution. The packages and picks wereinserted as in Fig. 9 (a), and as in Fig. 9 (b) the end of the package 2was 'cri'mped at .2 between the crimping rolls 16 and '17. The picks ywere placed in the tube-by the forward movement of the plungers 21, andby the passage of the tube between the crimping rolls 29 and 30, the endthrough which the picks were inserted has been crimped, as at 27 Fig. 9(a). We now have the wrapped picks ready for delivery from the machine.As a means of removing the packages from the machine, a removing guide Jis provided beyond the crimping rolls 29 and 30. This guide comprisestw'o fingers 33, 33 which are'connected on a, shaft 34 supported inbearings secured to the casing A adjacent an opening 35 formedtherethrough, and by turning this shaft 34, through the medium of handwheel '36, the fingers may be brought against the bottoms of theperipheral grooves 15, 15 and by setting thumb screw 37 to hold theshaft 34 in the position to which it is turned, the fingers are causedto engage with the lower sides o'f'the packages and raise the packagesfrom their pc-sitionin'the slots 13. 'A guide plate 410 is secured tothe. shaft 34 between the fingers =33, 33,and prevents too great upwardmovement of the packages, and also guides them into a delivering trough4.1,

which is secured on the side of the machine adjacent the opening 38.

As shown in Fig. 6, the slots 14 of the drum E are made of suchdimensions as to Width and depth that the picks will be guided properlyinto the tubes 2, and as shown in Fig. 1, the sides of the slots 14 aremadesomewhat concave to insure proper entr'ance'into the tube.

That the drums D and E may always rot-ate in the proper relation, thatis, that the slots 13 and 14: may always be in axial alinement, I haveprovided an adjustment for the gear 8. This adjustment comprises acollar 8 secured on the shaft 6, and provided at its upper part withlugs 8, 8. These lugs 8*embrace :1 lug 8", carried by the gear 8 andadjusting screws 8 are pro vidcd throi'gh the lugs 8*, so that the gear8 may be shifted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a machine inwhich the packages and the articles to be packaged are removedautomatically from the hoppers, and by plungers, the articles placed inthe package. after which that part through which the articles areinserted into the package is closed, and the package inclosing thearticles then removed from the machine, all

of the parts so arranged that the operation is continuous and automatic.7

It will be seen that some provislon might be made whereby a plurality ofhoppers 11- and 12 could be lmade-to be filled with tubes, and then whenthe supply in one hopper becomes low, the other or filled hopper can beinserted in place, and the operation of the machine will be continuous.Also, some provision mightbe made to place the completed packages in acarton or other suitable mo'ep: tacle, and still other changes might bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of m invention, andhence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein setforth, but:

Having fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire 'to secu're'by Letters Patent is: v

1-. An article-packaging machine comprising'traveling means to receiveand hold the containers, traveling means to receive the articles to bepackaged, means to simulta-i 'ne'ously insert the articles into aplurality of the'contain'ers, and means to dissimulta neo'usly close theends of the wntam'ers.

2. An article-packaging machine compris ing two rotarydrum's'havinggrooves which.

travel in continuous alinement with each other, the grooves in "one'drumto receive the containers, and the grooves in the other. drum thearticles to be packa ed,- and means to force the articles to-be pac'algedfromthe which travel in continuous ali nernent with each other toreceive respectively the container-and the article to be packaged, meansfor forcin the articles to be packa d endw'ise into t is containers, andmeans or'closing the containers.

4-. An article-packaging machine comprising. two traveling membershaving recesses which travel in continuous 'alinement with each other toreceive respectively the container and the article to be packaged, meansfOr forcing the articles to be packaged end- Wise into the containers,means for closing one end of the containers rior to the insertion of thearticles therein 0, and independentmeans for closing the open end of thecontainers after the insertion ofthe articles thereinto.

5. An article-packagingmachine comprising hoppers for feeding thepackages in the form of completed tubes and the articles to be packagedto the machine, means to receive and hold the tubes, means to receivethe articles to be packaged in each tube. a plunger to place thearticles in the tube, means for closing the tube. and means forvoperating said plunger and tube-closing means.

6. An article-packaging machine comprising a hopper in which thepackages in the form of completed tubes are contained, a

hopper to contain the articles to be pack- 'agcd,mean's to removea tubefrom the package hopper, means to remove the proper number of articlesfrom the article hopper, .a plunger to place the articles in the tube,means forclosing the'tube, and means for operating all of said parts atthe proper interval.

7. An article-packaging machine comprisinga' hopper in which thepackages in the torm .of completed tubes are contained, a hQPPe'r tocontain the articles to-be packaged, means for successively removing thetubes from the hopper, means to simultaneously remove the articles to becontained in each tube, plungers to place the articles in the tubes,means to close the tube, and means for driving all of said parts so thatthe operation of the machine will be continuous.

S, An article-packaging machine comprising, a container 'to' receive thepackages, va container to receive the articles to be packaged, a drumprovided with a plurality of apertures to receive-and remove the packages from the package container, a drum to remove thearticles from thearticle container, plungers to place the articles in the packages, andmeans to close the packages.

9. An article-packaging machine comprising, a hopper in whichthe-packages are contained, a. hopper to contain the articles to bepackaged a drum provided with a plurality of apertures to receive andremove the packages. successively from the package hopper, a drum toremove the articles to be contained in each package simultaneously withthe removal of the package, plungers to place the articles in thepackage, means to close the package, and means for causing the parts tobe continuously operated.

10. An article-packaging machine comprising a hopper in which thepackages are contained,a hopper to contain the articles to be packaged,a drum provided with a vplurality of slots to receive and remove thepackages successively from the package hopper, a drum toreceive andremove the articles to becontained' in each package simultaneously withthe removal of that package plungersacting in conjunction with saidsecond drum to place the articles in the packages, 'meansfor closing thepackage in that part through which the articles are inserted and meansfor moving the parts to causethe several steps to be successively andcontinuously carried on.

11. An article-packaging machine comprising a hopper in which thepackages are contained, a hopper to contain the articles to be packaged,a drum provided with a plurality of slots to receive and remove thepackages from the package container, a second drum to remove thearticles from the article container, plungersto place the articlesin'the packages, means for closing the moaooe packages, and means. forremovingthe closed packages from the machine.- 12.Anartiolespackagihgmachine comprising a hopper in which. the packagesare contained, a hopper, to, contain the articles to be packaged, a drumprovided with-a plurality of slots-to receive and remove the packagessuccessively .fromthe package hopper, a drum provided withslotstovreceive and remove the articles-to be contained ineach packagesimultaneously with the removal of that package, plungers fitted in the.slots' of said second drum, a cam for causing-the .plungers to be movedthrough theslots to place the articles in .the packages,-and-means forclosing the package.

13. Anarticle-packagingmaohinecomprising a hopper in: whichthepackagesare con-- tained, a hopper to contain the articles. to bepackaged, a drum rotatably mounted in said machine and provided with aplurality of slots to receive" and-remove the packages successively'from the package hopper,- a seconddrum-mounted to revolve at the samespeedas said first drum provided with slots toreceive .theartiole'sto-be contained in. each package simultaneously with theremoval of that "package, plungers mounted to slide in the slots of saidsecond drum, and a cam m-ountedtobe stationary on; the machine-bytained, a hopper to contain the articles to be.

packaged, a drum rotatably, mountedin said machine and provided with aplurality of slots to receive and remove the packagessuccessively fromthepackage hopper, a second drum mounted to revolve uit'the same speedassaid first drum provided with slots toreceive the articles to becontained in each package simultaneously with the removal of thatpackage, plungers mounted to slide in the slots of said second drum, acam mounted to be stationary on the machine by which the plungers areguided toplace the articles in the packages, and means for closing thepackage after the articles have been placed therein.

15. An article-packaging machine comprismg a hopper in which the ackagesare contamed, a hopper to COIltilll'l the articles to be packaged, a,drum rotatably mounted and provided with a plurality of slots to receiveand remove the packages successively from the package hopper, a seconddrum mounted to turn with said first drum and provided with slots toreceive the articles to be contained in each package simultaneously withthe removal of that package, said slots adaptedto be treated in groups.a group of plungers mounted-to slide in each of said groups of slots ofsaid second drum to remove the articlesfrom said slot and place them inthe packages, a cam mounted to be stationary and to cause the groups ofplunger-s to be reciprocated, and means for causing the drums to berevolved.

16. An article-packaging machine comprising a hopper in which thepackages are contained, a hopper to contain the articles to be packaged,a drum rotatably mounted and provided with a plurality of slots toreceive andremove the packages successively from the package hopper, asecond drum mounted to turn with said first drum and provided with slotsto receive the articles to be contained in each package simultaneouslyWith the removal of that package,said slots adapted to be treated ingroups, a group of plungers mounted to slide in each of said groups ofslots of said second drum to remove-the articles from said slot andplace them in the packages, a cam mounted to be stationary and to causethe groups of plungers to be reciprocate d, means for causing the drumsto be revolved, means for closing the packages, and means whereby theyare removed from the machine.

17. An article-packaging machine adapted for packaging articles intubes, comprising means for feeding the tubes and the articles to themachine, means to receive and hold the tube, means to receive thearticle to be packaged, a lunger to place the article in the tube, andcrimping rolls for closin the tube.

18. in article-packaging machine, comprising a hopper in which thepackages in the form of completed tubes are contained, a hopper tocontain the articles to be packaged, means to remove a tube from thepackage hopper, means to close one end thereof, means to remove theproper number of articles from the article hopper, a plunger to placethe articles in the tube, and means for closing that end of the tubethrough which the articles are inserted.

19. An articlepaelnlging machine, comprising a hopper in which thepackages.

1n the form of completed tubes are contained, a hopper to contain thearticles to be packaged, means to remove a tube from the package hopper,means to close one end thereof, means to remove the proper number ofarticles from the article hopper, a plunger to place the articles in thetube, means for closing that end of the tube through which the articlesare inserted, and means for removing the closed tube from the machine.

20. An article-packaging machine comprising a hopper in which thepackages are contained, a hopper to contain the articles to be packaged,a drum provided with a plurality of slots to receive and remove thepackages successively from the package hopper, means to close one end ofthe package, a drum to receive the articles to becontained in eachpackage, plungers. to place the articles in the package, means to closethe opening in the package through which the articles are inserted, andmeans for causing the erated.

21. An article-packaging machine, comprising a hopper in WlllCll thepackages are contained, a hopper to contain thearticles to be packaged,a drum provided With a plurality of slots to receive and remove thepackages successively from the package hop per, a drum to receive andremove the articlcs to be contained in each package simultaneously withthe removal of that package, crimping rolls to close one endpf saidpackage, pl-ungers acting in conjunction with said second drum to placethe. articles in the packages, crimping rolls for closing the package inthat part through which the articles are inserted, and. means for movingthe parts to cause the several steps to be successively andcontinuouslycarried on.

22. An article-packagingmachine, adapted to inclose the articles intubular packages comprising a hopper in which the packages arecontained, a hopper to contain the articles to be packaged, a drumprovided with a plurality of slots'to receive and remove the packagessuccessively from the package hopper, a drum to receive and remove thearticles to be contained in each package, simultaneously with theremoval of that package, crimping rolls placed to close one end of saidpackages, pl ungers adapted to slide in the slots of said second drum toplace the articles in the packages, a cam positioned to cause theplungers to be reciprocated, means for closing the package in that partthrough which the articles are inserted, means for removing the filledand closed packages, from the drum, and means for causing all of saidparts to be successively and continuously operated.

28. An article-packaging machine comprising rigid means to receive andhold the, containers by friction, means to receive the articles to bepackaged, both of said means having coincident axes, means for insertingthe articles into the containers, and means to close the containers.

24. An amide-packaging machine comprising means to receive and hold thecontainers, means to receive the articles to be packaged, both of saidmeans having coincident axes, means for inserting the articles into thecontainers, and means to close the two ends of the containersdissimultaneously.

An article-packaging machine, comprising means to receive and hold thecontainers, means to receive the articles to be packaged, both of saidmeans having coincident axes. means for inserting the articles into thecontainers, and rotating means to parts to be continuously op close thetWo ends of the containers dissimultaneously.

26. An article-packaging machine, comprising plungers and two travelingmembers having superficial grooves which travel in alinement with eachother, the grooves in one constructed and adapted to receive containers,and the grooves in the other the articles to enter the containers, saidplungers being in position to force the articles to 10 be packaged fromtheir grooves into the containers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

CARL CASEY. \Vitnesses:

J. D. YOAKLEY, VERNON E. HODGES.

